Heat-regulator.



No. 725,341. PATENTED APR. 14,1903.

A. J. HOPKINS.

HEAT REGULATOR.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4. 1901.. no MODEL. I

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PATENTED APR. 14, I903.

A. J. HOPKINS.

HEAT REGULATOR. APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 4, I QOIJ 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. N0 MODEL.

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NITED STATES {PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR JOHN HOPKINS, OF AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS.-

H EAT-REG U LATO R.

srEoIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent N6. 725,341, dated April14,1903. Application filed November 4, .1901. Serial No. 81,019. (Nomodel.) A

regulators for governing the heat from fur-I naces, boilers, and thelike, in which two mediums of different degrees of density (one beingvery sensitive to atmospheric changes) employed to control a liquidwhich serves both as an intermediate factor and as a motive power andsuitable appliances for utiliz-:

ing these elements in a practical manner are made use of, all ashereinafterfully described, and especially pointed out in the claims.

The objects of my improvement are, first, to provide. a heat regulatorin which the amount of work that can be performed thereby does notdepend upon the degree of sensitiveness of the device and in which saidamount of work and degree of sensitiveness are both practicallyunlimited; second, to produce a regulator which is inexpensive andsimple in construction and operation, safe, durable, compact, and notliable to get out of order, and, third, to produce an automaticheat-regulator in which the advantages enumerated above are present andone that is free from any of the disadvantages of other devices in thisclass,

Since this regulator when complete should include an expanding medium orthermostat as one of its four primary elements,the other elements beingan intermediate factor controlled by said thermostat, a motive powerwhich depends upon and is evolved from said intermediate factor, and theload directly governed by said motive power, a thermostat and regulatingmeans therefor are shown and described for the purpose of renderingclear and comprehensive an explanation of the general operation of myinvention. It will be understood, however, that any practical thermostatmay be substituted for the one above alluded to. A light expandingliquid-as acetone,

chloroform, or alcoholand a heavy liquid, as mercury, enter into theformation of this particular thermostat. Acetone and mercury provide anexceedingly sensitive but entirely adequate means of control for theintermediate factor, which is water 'by preference.

Wate'ris easilycontrolled and readily changes from the intermediatefactor to a motive power sufficient foiall practical purposes As amotive power water is employed in this regulator for moving the load inboth directions. The load may consist of one or more draft-governorson'a hot-air'furnace, a steam valve or valves of a boiler, and the like.

In my device it is desirable to maintain the wa.

ter-supply at an approximately constant level in order to render itsflow easy to control and to provide acurrent of substantially uniformAfter the current passes the point of control, however, the waterincreases in volume and weight and possesses energy by reason of itsposition. In other. words, I am able to control a water-current ofextremely low head by a very sensitive expanding medium and quicklytransform it into a heavy motive powerv to move the load- Simplicity andlow cost of construction follow as a consequence of the use of oneelement, as water, for both' the intermediate factor and motive power.Another advantage resides in the fact that after the water has beenemployed to produce one effect upon thegovernors no further supply isneeded to bring about the reverse effect.

I attain the objects, accomplish the results, and utilize the elementsabove alluded to in a general way by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings,-in which Figure 1 is a general view of myregulator.

(water, preferably) used in my device'in the first instance as anintermediate factor, and said water is retained at an approximatelyconstant level (denoted by broken lines a in Figs. 3 and 5) by means ofa float 11 and valve 12. A support 13 is secured to the floor of the tootank 10, to which the holder 14 is pivoted at 15. The bent rods 16 and17 connect the float 11 with the holder 14, being securely fastened atopposite ends to each. The float is preferably constructed with adrop-top 11 for the purpose of leaving space for the introduction ofshot or other heavy material should it be desired to raise thewater-level, since by increasing the weight of the float a larger bodyof water is required to elevate the same for the closing of the valve12. The valve 12 operates in a tube 18, extending through the support 13and the bottom of the tank and provided With a valve-seat 18. The stem12 of the valve is attached to a rod 19, depending from a sleeve 20,slotted at 20 to receive the float-rod 17, to which it is pivoted at 21.The tube 18 opens into a tube 22, which is fastened thereto below thetank-bottom, and the coupling 23 connects a-nipple 24 with said tube 22.A pipe 24" leads from the nipple 24 to a constant source ofwater-supply.

From the foregoing it will be understood that when water is drawn out ofthe tank 10 the float ll will descend and open the valve 12 for theadmission of more water, rising again with the latter to close saidvalve when the mark a is reached by the water. In this manner awater-level with very little variation is maintained, since the quantityof water flowing from the tank is small, as will presently appear.

It is obvious that other means for governing the intake of the tank maybe employed, but that just described is simple and has been found towork satisfactorily.

A hole is located in the bottom of the tank for the reception of a tube30, and on the outside of the tank adjacent to said hole an eduction-cup 26 is formed, outside of which latter is an eduction-tube 27,the centers of the hole, cup, and the tube preferably being in the samestraight line. The hole 28 in the upper part of the cup 26 opens fromthe latter into the tube 27. An internally-threaded regulator-tube 29rests upon the floor of the tank and is held in place by the externallythreaded and shouldered tube 30, the small end of which passes upwardthrough the hole in said floor to screw into said tube 29. The tube 29opens into the cup 26 through a short connection 31. The adjustingtube32 of the regulating device is externally threaded at its lower terminalto screw into the tube 29, opens into the tank through holes 33, locatedbelow low-water level, and is closed at the top by a rod 34, rigidlyattached thereto and extending upward through the floor K) into the roomabove. The rod 34 terminates in a head 34 to grasp for turning the tube32. A tube 35, preferably of glass, is fixed in the lower end of thetube 32. A U-shaped receptacle 36 has oneterminal securely connectedwith the tube 30, into which it opens, by means of a coupling 37, andthe glass tube 35 extends some distance below this terminal. The outsidediameter of the tube 35 is smaller attached to the cord 51.

than the passage below the end of its supporting-tube 32, which opensinto the connection 31. A small pipe 38 rises from the closed top of theouter terminal of the U-shaped receptacle 3G and has a liquid reservoir39 mounted on the upper end thereof. The pipe 38 opens into both thereceptacle 36 and the reservoir 3.). The reservoir 39 should besupported some five feet from the floor in the room above by the pipe38, which passes upward through said floor. Mercury stands in the lowerpart of the receptacle 36 about as indicated by the dotted lines o and cin Fig. 5, and the acetone or other liquid in the reservoir 39, pipe 38,and upper part of the connected arm of the receptacle 36 rests upon themercury at c. The receptacle, reservoir, and connecting-pipe, with theircontents of sensitive elements, make up or complete the thermostat orinitial factor which I prefer to employ with my invention, although, asbefore stated, a suitable substitution may b made.

A vertically-movable drip-cup 40, having an outlet 41 at the bottom,governed by a valve 42, is designed to be suspended by a chain or cord43 below the eduction-tube 27. A chain or cord 44, supported by a pulley45, Fig. 1, and having one end fastened to the fioat 11 or one of itsrods 16 or 17' at some suitable point, as at d, Fig. 3, and the otherend to a convenient part of the drip-cup 40, as the screw-eye 46, Fig.6, is adapted to raise said float and close the valve 12 when saiddrip-cup is in its lowest position, as will be explained more fullyhereinafter. In order to provide against an overflow of the drip-cupfrom any cause, some convenient means, as an outside tube 47, may beemployed. This tube opens at the top into the upper part of the drip-cupand at the bottom on a level with the base of the outlet 41. Thedrip-cup is so suspended that it opens directly above a receiver 48,which may be connected with a sewer.

Referring to Fig. 1, a furnace e is shown having an ordinary draft-door49 and checkdamper 50, connected by a chain or cord 51, passing over apulley 52. The cord 43 passes over a pulley 53 and under a pulley 54 tobe The several pulleys are supported by or from the floor joists, andthe tank is suspended therefrom by a bracket 55 or otherwise. The door49 is weighted sufficiently to counterbalance the damper 50 and thedrip-cup 40 when empty and overcome friction, thus holding the formeropen and maintaining the latter in its elevated position through themedium of the connecting-cords, as shown by full lines.

Assuming that the tank is filled with water to the proper height, theregulator set to an average temperature of 69, for example, and theparts standing as shown by fulllines in Fig. 1, the operation of myregulator is as fol lows: As the fire in the furnace decreases infervency the air surrounding the reservoir 39 so that no water couldescape.

becomes cooler and the acetone in the thermostat beginsto contract, themercurydrawing away from the base of the glass tube 35, which haspreviously been covered thereby,

said cup, and overflows through the hole 28' into the tube 27,'fromwhich it falls into the drip-cup 40. The .cord 44, although slack, owingto the elevated position of the dripcup, extends into the latter andserves as a guide forthe falling water to prevent spattering, as well asfor another purposehereinbel'ore mentioned. The head of water in thetankis represented ,bythe distance be tween the marl: at a and the base ofthe hole 28, and the arrangement of the float and valve is such that themark representing water-level will not fall below the center of saidhole, ex cept as stated hereinafter. Hence it will be seen that, withthe exception alluded to, water must continue to overflow into thedripcup as long as the base of the glass tube is clear of mercury. Whenthe accumulating weight of water in the drip-cup is suliicient toovercome the force exerted by the weighted door 49 and friction, saidcup begins to descend and to open said door and close the damper 50. Thedrip-cup continues to move downward until the positions of the door anddamper are respectively reversed and the parts stand as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 1. A stop 56 on the front of the furnace above thedoor 49 or other suitable device may be employed to limit the movementof the parts-in the directions just described. The descent of thedrip-cup has drawn the cord 44 taut by the time the lowest position isreached .and caused the valve 12 to be closed. Now no more water canenter the tank and after the entire head of water has been exhausted nomore can flow into-the drip-cup until it is elevated. Seldom, if ever,will the entire head be exhausted in this manner; but the positiveclosing of the valve 12 at this time causes the head to decrease, andthus economize in the use of wa-' When the The water is now shut CD a.)

slowly, of course, than it runs in when the inher end of the eductor isopen. Water having been cut off from the drip-cup in the manner abovedescribed, the contents of' the same escapes through the outlet 41 untilsaid cup is'lightened sufficiently for the Weighted door 49 to overcomeall resistance ofiered thereto and swing-downward into its closedposition, at the same time opening the damper 50' and elevating saidcup. may empty in ten minutes, more or less, according to size and theposition at which the valve is set. The" parts now stand as originally,ready to repeat the cycle before described Some furnaces and fuel willnot respond to the regulator as readily as othersyso that results may beaffected; but the material efficiency of the regulator itself isnot'affect- When it is desired to alter the average .The drip-cup greeof temperature and greater contraction of acetone than before are nowrequired to open the way into the eductor for opening the furnace in themanner described. Suppose the average nighttemperatureto be 60,

a drop of abont one-tenth of a degree causes the regulator to open thefurnace, and a rise of one-tenth closes it in the same manner'as whenthe device was set toan average of 69. Conversely, the raising of thetube 32increases the maximum distance between the mercury and the baseofthe glass tube,-and

a higher degree of temperature and greater expansion of acetone than inthe first instance is required to prevent the escape of water into thedrip-cup. The cycle of operation in every case so faras relates to-riseand-fall above and belowthe average remains -=the same. Y I 1 In Fig. '2a section of. a steam-pipe f is shown with avalve-stem 57, to which apul-f ley 58 is fixed. A drip-cup 40 is suspended from a chain or cord43, passing over a pulley 53" and having one end fastened to the pulley58. A weight 59 is suspended from one end fastened to said pulley. Anapproximately full drip-cup overcomes the Weight 59,rotates-the pulley58, and opens the steamvalve, and when the contents of said cup hasescaped said valve is released to the action of the weight which closesit.

Numerous ways of applying myregulator to heating apparatuses may beemployed according to the exigencies of the case, the regulator,however, remaining practically the the pulley 58 by a chain or cord 51,having construction other than those hereinbefore noted may be madewithin proper limits Without departing from the nature of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination with a liquid-tank, of an eductor comprising a cup 26communicating through intermediate tubular members with the interior ofsaid tank, and a tube 27 opening into said cup slightly below theapproximately constant liquid-level maintained in the tank; and athermostat to control the flow of liquid from the tank through saideductor, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a liquid-tank, of an eductor comprising a cup 26communicating through intermediate tubular members with the interior ofsaid tank, and a tube 27 opening into said cup slightly below theapproximately constant liquid-level maintained in the tank; a thermostatto control the flow of liquid from the tank through said eductor; and amovable drip-cup to receive liquid from the eductor, substantially asset forth.

3. The combination with the governor or governors of a heater, of aliquid-tank; an eductor comprising a cup 26 communicating throughintermediatetubular members with the interior of said tank, and a tube27 opening into said cup slightly below the approximately constantliquid-level maintained in the tank; a thermostat adapted to control theflow of liquid from the tank through said eductor; and a movabledrip-cup connected with said governor or governors to receive liquidfrom the eductor, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in a heat-regulator, of awater-tank having a floattherein connected with a valve, with an eductor, a movable drip-cup toreceive water from said eductor,

and means to positively actuate said float to close the connected valvewhen said drip-cup is at the farthest limit of its travel.

5. The combination of a watertank, an eduction-cup, an eduction-tubeopening into the latter, and a receptacle below said tank, with atubular member 29 in the tank opening into said cup and receptacle, andtubular members 32 and 35 supported by said member 29 and opening intothe tank and receptacle, for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with a Water-tank, of an eductor comprising a cup 26communicating through intermediate tubular members with the interior ofsaid tank, and a tube 27 opening into said cup; a thermostat adapted tocontrol the flow of water through said eductor; and means to maintain anapproximately uniform head of water in the tank, the opening betweensaid cup and tube being slightly below the approximately constantwater-level, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the governor or governors of a heater, of a tankarranged to maintain liquid at an approximately constant level; aneductor comprising a cup 26 communicating through intermediate tubularmembers with the interior of said tank, and a tube 27 opening into saidcup slightly below said approximately constant liquid-level; athermostat adapted to control the flow of liquid from the tank to saidcup; a movable drip-cup connected with said governor or governors; and avalve to regulate the escape of liquid from said drip-cup, for thepurpose set forth.

8. The combination, in a heat-regulator, of a water-tank, with aneductor, a movable drip-cup to receive Water from the eductor, and achain or cord hanging from the eductoroutlet to guide the Water intosaid drip-cup and prevent spattering, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, in a heat-regulator, of a water-tank having a floattherein connected with a valve, with an ed uctor, a movable dripcup toreceive water from the eductor, a chain or cord connected withsaid floatand dripcup and loose only when the latter is at the farthest limit oftravel, and means independent of said chain or cord for supporting thedrip-cup, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, in a heat-regulator, of a water-tank having a floattherein connected with a valve, with an eductor, a movable drip-cup toreceive the water from the eductor, and a running chain or cordconnected with said float and drip-cup and passing through theeductor-outlet, substantially as set forth.

11. In a heat-regulator, the combination of a tank connected with awater-supply, with a float provided with rods, a holder attached to theterminals of said rods opposite the floatterminals, a support towhichsaid holder is pivoted, a slotted sleeve pivoted to one of the rodsbetween the float and support, a rod projecting from said sleeve, and avalve at the end of said last-mentioned rod, interposed in saidWater-supply, substantially as'shown and described.

12. In a heat-regulator, the combination of a tank connected with awater-supply having an interposed valve,with a float having a droptop, arod rigidly attached at one terminal to said floatand having the otherterminal pivoted at a fixed point in said rank, and pivotal connectionsbetween said rod and valve, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR JOHN HOPKINS.

Witnesses:

F. A. CUTTER, F. A. MIDDLEBROOK.

